Red Sox recruiting from Cincinnati?

Present Boston sensation Andrew Benintendi was drafted in the first round from suburban Madeira High School, and just a few seasons later finished among the Best selections for the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

Baseball executives at Bean Town may want to break two players from Cincinnati before the trading deadline next month, just the duo will have to be obtained in the Reds rather than the draft. Any deal would cost Boston very little in return, such as the rebuilding Reds are more interested in starting up playing time for younger players.

Cincinnati’s Billy Hamilton is a talented defensive center fielder and base runner, but he’s been a below average hitter during his career. However, ESPN Buster Olney believes that Hamilton’s speed could be an asset to any rival team, based on his column on June 18.

Olney didn’t include Boston one of the three clubs he believed good fits for Hamilton, but the Red Sox have many reasons to get him. Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr is still hitting well under the Mendoza Line, almost halfway through the 2018 season. He is among those few players that Hamilton is really outhitting, and the latter could be a definite upgrade on defense.

The Reds also have a much greater asset to market to the Red Sox, second baseman Scooter Gennett. Boston was reluctant to upgrade at moment, anticipating the return of All-Star Dustin Pedroia from the disabled list.

Pedroia did come off the D.L. last week, only to be put back on after only 1 game. Since the division rival Yankees are proving to be among the greatest teams in the league, the Red Sox can ill afford to wait for Pedroia to get fully cured.

Right now Boston is using Eduardo Escobar at moment, a veteran presence surely but more of a utility infielder than a regular player. Gennett would be a massive upgrade, and he’s flexible enough to move elsewhere if Pedroia return.

Maybe through such a bargain, Cincinnati could pluck a few gems from Boston.